The Resurrection Project, Community Leaders, and Elected Officials Celebrate New Affordable Homes in Back of the Yards
CHICAGO, IL – On February 28, The Resurrection Project (TRP) celebrated the ceremonial ribbon cutting for the newest affordable homes in Back of the Yards, in partnership with partners of United Power for Action and Justice, Reclaiming Chicago, community members, faith leaders, and elected officials: Alderman Jeanette B. Taylor, 20th Ward; Mayor Brandon Johnson, City of Chicago; Olivia Ortega, Director of Housing Solutions, State of Illinois; Lissette Castañeda, Commissioner of the City of Chicago Department of Housing (DOH).
Reclaiming Back of the Yards, an initiative of Reclaiming Chicago, is a community-rooted effort led by The Resurrection Project in partnership with United Power for Action and Justice to transform vacant lots into affordable, for-sale homes for working families. Citywide, Reclaiming Chicago aims to build 2,000 new, energy-efficient homes across Back of the Yards, Chicago Lawn, North Lawndale, Roseland, Washington Park, and Woodlawn.
To date, TRP has built 19 new homes for this initiative and are building 28 additional homes this year in Back of the Yards. The new homes will span 1,618 square feet and include three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and parking. The average development cost per home is $537,000 with a sale price of $315,000. Thanks to investments from the State of Illinois and additional down payment assistance, eligible homebuyers’ mortgage could be reduced closer to $225,000. Constructed by Toro Construction Group and J&J Construction and designed by lead architect Beehyyve, the homes are expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
“When families buy these homes, they’re not just buying a piece of property. They’re buying a piece of their community,” said Raul I. Raymundo, CEO and co-founder of The Resurrection Project. “This work will not happen overnight. What we’re building here is long-term sustainable homeownership that results in generational wealth for this neighborhood’s families.”
»As we work collectively to address the housing crisis facing our communities, I’m inspired by the leadership displayed by our partners, including The Resurrection Project, to advance projects which are spurring new development and population growth in neighborhoods that have long been neglected,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “The City is proud to provide support to help bring meaningful housing development to Back of the Yards after decades of disinvestment. Every groundbreaking is proof that when government and community come together, we can build stronger, more affordable communities across Chicago.”
“When I first took office, there were 5,000 vacant lots here in Back of the Yards,” said 20th Ward Alderman Jeanette Taylor. “Now, thanks to the strength of community-led housing initiatives like Reclaiming Back of the Yards, that number is now down to 2,000.”
“The Reclaiming Chicago commitment is bold and it is clear: 2,000 new homes across Chicago’s South and West Sides. This is not symbolic progress. This is tangible proof that we are stronger when we organize—across neighborhoods, across races, and across lines of difference,” said Shenita Muse, executive director of the Hope Center Foundation, representing United Power for Action and Justice. “Today, we celebrate progress. But tomorrow, we continue building.”
“A home is stability. It’s where people build their futures,” said Olivia Ortega, director of housing solutions for the State of Illinois. “We’ve learned through our work that families can afford the monthly mortgage payment for these homes but are struggling to cover the down payment. Thanks to funding from the State of Illinois, $31.5M to date, we’re able to offer assistance programs that will help future homeowners cover that cost.”
“Back of the Yards is a neighborhood working class families have always called home,” said Lissette Castañeda, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Housing. “We are proud to contribute to this housing effort by selling land to TRP for $1 per lot through our City Lots for Working Families Program.”
“I am Back of the Yards. I’ve lived here all my life. I remember 47th being full of life, and along the way, that faded. But we’re going to bring that back,” said Leonardo Garcia, a Back of the Yards community member and homeowner. “This is a full circle moment for me. I am a Union 1 Carpenter. I built downtown Chicago, and now I’m building Back of the Yards.”
“I was born in Englewood, not far from here, and I’ve been a CPS high school counselor for 17 years here in Back of the Yards, just blocks away from these homes. Students often don’t speak of positive experiences here; however, TRP is here to change this,” said DaJuanda Fairley-Hall, a future homeowner. “This initiative presents a wonderful opportunity for people like me to reside in the place where we create impact every day. And I look forward to cutting the ribbon on my own home in June!”
Through investments and financing from the State of Illinois, the Pritzker Traubert Foundation, and other public and private funders, together we continue to build healthier, more vibrant neighborhoods.
TRP’s efforts to invest in Back of the Yards, a historic community that is vibrant, is a community-led effort to bring homeownership, financial empowerment, and long-term stability back to families.
Since its founding in 1990, TRP builds community and champions justice for immigrants and families by creating and preserving affordable housing and expanding economic opportunity in Back of the Yards and across Chicago’s southwest side.
To learn more about TRP visit our website Resurrectionproject.org.
Click here to view photos from the ribbon cutting ceremony.
Click here to view the livestream.
#
About The Resurrection Project
The Resurrection Project (TRP) builds trusting relationships to educate and propel individuals, immigrants, and families to achieve their social and economic aspirations, stable homes, and equitable participation in their community. TRP is a leading provider of affordable housing, financial education, and immigration services on Chicago’s Southwest side.
During the past three decades TRP has worked to improve the lives of individuals and families by creating wealth, building assets, and engaging residents to be catalysts for change. Rooted in the Pilsen community, TRP’s impact now extends across the City of Chicago and through the State of Illinois; we are making steady progress towards leveraging and preserving more than $1 billion in community wealth.